Worldwide, there are roughly 120 different species of maples (Acer). Thirteen of these are native to North America and seven are native to Vermont and the northeastern United States. In addition to the native species, Norway maple (an introduced species native to Europe) has been planted extensively and is often found growing wild (naturalized) in urban areas.

Sugar maple is the State Tree of Vermont and three other states, our most commercially important maple, and is the species most people associate with Vermont. Black maple is very similar to sugar maple, but is only found occasionally in Vermont, being much more common in the Mid-West and Lake States. Red maple is also a very common species in Vermont, deriving its name from the distinctive, bright red color its leaves turn in the fall. Silver maple and boxelder are commonly found along stream banks and floodplains. Both have been planted as ornamentals, and boxelder is often found as a "volunteer" growing wild in the urban environment. Striped maple and mountain maple are both small trees commonly found in the forest understory throughout the Northeast.

The Maple Field Guide Pages provide a photo-based key, as well as individual descriptions and photos for each of the maples common to the northeast. If you know the species you are looking for, simply use the links to the right. To use the key, simply go to the photo key page, "click" on one of the leaf photos, and go to that species' page.